Mike Reilly

A late growth spurt put Reilly on the prospect map, and the University of Minnesota blueliner now finds himself mentioned as a preseason contender for the Hobey Baker Award, awarded to the top NCAA hockey player. He's still a long way from the NHL, but Reilly has the skills ...

Reilly, who leads all NCAA defensemen in scoring this season with six goals and 38 points in 34 games, is expected to forego his senior year at the University of Minnesota and turn pro, the Columbus Dispatch reports.

Reilly has elected to return to the University of Minnesota for one more season, the Columbus Dispatch reports. "It just makes so much sense for me, physically, to stay in college," Reilly said. "It was a tough decision, actually, because turning pro would be exciting and because it was possible. But when I sat down with [Blue Jackets general manager] Jarmo Kekalainen and the coaching staff, and when I talked to the coaches back in Minnesota, we all agreed it was best for me."

Reilly, a fourth-round pick of the Blue Jackets in 2011, has looked good running the first power-play unit for Team USA at the World Junior Championships, the Columbus Dispatch reports. "When he came to camp in Lake Placid this summer, he really opened up a lot of eyes," said Team USA assistant coach Mark Osiecki. "He's highly skilled, an incredible power-play guy. Great poise. Great skater. Everybody used to say he was a small, skilled guy. Now he's a 6-1 skilled guy. He has so many NHL qualities, it's not even funny."